India captain Shubman Gill has already started looking ahead to the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, describing the tournament as “unfinished business” after India’s heartbreaking defeat in the 2023 final.Speaking to JioStar ahead of India’s third ODI against the West Indies, Gill reflected on the previous World Cup campaign and said every opportunity to represent the country at the global tournament is significant.Key HighlightsShubman Gill described the 2027 ODI World Cup as “unfinished business”.India lost the 2023 World Cup final to Australia in Ahmedabad.Gill said India had performed strongly throughout the 2023 tournament before the final defeat.The India captain highlighted the value of World Cup opportunities.Gill also praised the experience of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.He said his focus is on helping India win matches rather than individual rankings.Gill Reflects on 2023 World Cup HeartbreakIndia had gone unbeaten through the league stage of the 2023 World Cup before losing the final to Australia by six wickets in Ahmedabad.Looking back at that campaign, Gill said the way India performed throughout the tournament made the final defeat particularly difficult. He acknowledged that a World Cup can be decided by one match, even after a team has performed consistently across the tournament.For Gill, the experience has added significance to the next opportunity to compete for the ODI World Cup.‘Every World Cup Is a Big Honour’Gill said players do not get unlimited opportunities to represent their country at a World Cup, making every appearance an important occasion.The India captain said he is grateful to have another opportunity at the 2027 tournament and wants to make the most of it.The 2027 World Cup is scheduled to be hosted across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. India are set to begin their campaign against Australia in Cape Town on October 7, 2027, in a rematch of the 2023 final.Gill Values Kohli and Rohit’s ExperienceGill also spoke about having senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma around the Indian team as preparations for the 2027 World Cup continue.He described himself as fortunate to have access to their experience and said their knowledge remains valuable to the team.Gill added that he seeks opinions from several senior players, including KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, before making decisions as captain. He said listening to different perspectives helps him assess situations and determine what could work best for the team.Team Contribution Over Individual RankingsGill also reflected on his status as the No. 1-ranked ODI batter. He recalled achieving the ranking during the 2023 World Cup but said individual rankings are now less important to him.The India captain said his priority is to contribute when he walks out to bat and help the team win matches.With the 2027 World Cup on the horizon, Gill will lead India into another major ODI campaign, carrying the experience of the 2023 tournament into his leadership role.
